Strike charges 7.49%–10.5% APR with $0 origination fees using custodial. Aave charges ~4.4% (variable) APR with $0 origination fees using smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge). See the full breakdown of rates, thresholds, and custody risk below.
Rates verified 2026-06-09
Aave advertises a lower headline rate at ~4.4% (variable) compared to Strike's 7.49%–10.5%. On a $1M loan held for 12 months, Aave saves $46,000 in total first-year cost (interest plus origination fees). From a custody perspective, Aave presents lower counterparty risk with its smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge) model.
Strike offers tiered rates that decrease with larger loan amounts, while Aave charges a flat rate regardless of loan size. Total year-1 cost includes both annualized interest and any origination fees charged upfront.
| Loan Size | Strike APR | Aave APR | Strike Total Year-1 Cost | Aave Total Year-1 Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | 10.5% | 4.4% | $10,500 | $4,400 | $6,100 with Aave |
| $250,000 | 10% | 4.4% | $25,000 | $11,000 | $14,000 with Aave |
| $500,000 | 10% | 4.4% | $50,000 | $22,000 | $28,000 with Aave |
| $1M | 9% | 4.4% | $90,000 | $44,000 | $46,000 with Aave |
| $5M | 7.49% | 4.4% | $374,500 | $220,000 | $154,500 with Aave |
Total year-1 cost includes annualized interest plus origination fees. Aave rates are variable; the table uses a representative recent rate. Rates sourced from each lender's public rate pages as of 2026-06-09.
Strike and Aave take fundamentally different approaches to collateral custody. Strike uses Custodial. Your Bitcoin is held by Strike and could be at risk in the event of a hack, insolvency, or regulatory action. Aave holds collateral in audited smart contracts rather than with a single lender, but borrowing requires wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC or cbBTC) — your underlying BTC is held by the wrapper's custodian (BitGo/BiT Global for WBTC, Coinbase for cbBTC), reintroducing custodial bridge risk. Smart-contract and oracle risk also apply.
Strike triggers margin calls at 70% LTV and liquidates at 85% LTV. Aave has no margin-call mechanism: positions become liquidatable automatically the moment LTV crosses 78%, with no warning threshold or response window. Strike gives borrowers 72 hours to respond to a margin call before any collateral is sold.
| Threshold | Strike | Aave |
|---|---|---|
| Max Starting LTV | 50% | 73% |
| Margin Call | 70% LTV | None |
| Margin Call Window | 72 hours | None — automated liquidation |
| Liquidation | 85% LTV | 78% LTV |
Strike: 35.0 percentage point buffer between starting LTV (50%) and liquidation (85%). Aave: 5.0 percentage point buffer between starting LTV (73%) and liquidation (78%). Strike provides a wider safety margin.
Choosing between Strike and Aave requires evaluating total cost, custody risk, and which platform aligns with your borrowing profile. Strike uses custodial with 7.49%–10.5% APR, while Aave uses smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge) with ~4.4% (variable) APR.
On a $250,000 loan, Aave costs $11,000 in the first year versus $25,000 at Strike, a difference of $14,000. Aave charges no origination fee, so the only cost is interest.
The custody difference is material. Aave uses smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge), which means your Bitcoin requires multiple key holders to coordinate, reducing single-point-of-failure risk. Strike uses custodial. In a platform insolvency scenario, Aave borrowers' collateral is protected by the multisig architecture, while Strike borrowers may face creditor claims.
Strike is the better fit for borrowers who are borrowing $10,000 or more and are comfortable with custodial lending. Aave is the better fit for borrowers who need smaller loans or more flexible access.
Key details to be aware of: Strike: Monthly-payment interest rates shown (10.5% = 11. Aave: DeFi money market — rates are variable and utilization-driven: USDC borrow against WBTC/cbBTC has ranged ~3.5-5.
Aave is cheaper. On a $500,000 loan held for 12 months, Strike costs $50,000 (10% APR) while Aave costs $22,000 (4.4% APR). That is a $28,000 difference in the first year.
Strike uses custodial. Aave uses smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge). Aave presents lower custody risk because your collateral requires coordination among multiple key holders.
Strike's minimum loan is $10,000. Aave has no minimum. Aave is more accessible for smaller borrowers.
Strike issues a margin call at 70% LTV with a 72-hour response window and liquidates at 85% LTV. Aave has no margin call — positions are liquidated automatically the moment LTV crosses 78%. Starting from a 50% LTV, Strike provides a 35-point buffer before liquidation, while Aave provides a 28-point buffer.
It depends on your priorities. Strike (7.49%–10.5% APR, custodial, min $10,000) is better for borrowers who value custodial and have larger borrowing needs. Aave (~4.4% (variable) APR, smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge), no minimum) is better for borrowers who value smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge) and need smaller loan access. Use the rate table and cost comparison above to model your specific scenario.
Lygos offers 10% APR, $0 origination fees, and DLC-secured collateral where rehypothecation is cryptographically impossible.